St George's Church, Penang

St George's Church is the oldest Anglican Church in South East Asia, it was consecrated in 1819.

It reflects the design of St Martin-in-the-Fields, as the architect, Robert Smith of the Madras Engineers, was influenced by James Gibbs.

The Greek Temple is the monument to Francis Light, the founder of George Town. Francis Light was the illegitimate son of a Suffolk gentleman, joined the navy and was placed on the reserve list at the end of the Seven Years War, and came out East to find his fortune with the Honourable East India Company. He founded George Town for the HEIC in 1786 at the point he landed on Pulau Penang and where ships could moor, on what was then a malarial swamp.

George Town soon attracted those seeking freedom from many lands including: Malays escaping Siamese attacks, Eurasians fleeing persecution in Thailand, Chinese escaping Manchu oppression and Straits Chinese, Indian Muslim traders from Malacca, Armenian, Persians, Jews, Acehnese and Arabs all seeking their fortunes under the EIC flag.

Light named Penang island Prince of Wales Island, a usage that did not stick although George Town has. Allegedly Light cleared the nearby forest by firing a cannon full of coins into it and letting the eager searchers hack the forest down!